I went to my pottery class this morning and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I made a "rustic looking" soap dish. Rustic means, the edges are wobbly, different thicknesses, there are finger indentations on the outside, and the design inside is off centre. But I made it. The vase is also "rustic" but I love it. Both items still need to be glazed. It's hard for me to let go and just try something, because I always want things to be perfect. I'm old enough now that I understand that perfection is:
1-overrated
2-no always desirable
3-attained through years of experience and mistakes
So I'm letting go at pottery class and trying things, working with my hands, and chatting with lovely women. I'm working on a pinch pot, or a vase, or a mug. I have yet to decide what it will be and it keeps changing shape on me, so I keep changing my mind:)
It's kind of a down day. I'm tired of the cold and being stuck indoors, but I also have no desire to freeze my face off. I talked to my daughter yesterday for over an hour and it's so nice to have a grown up daughter to talk to. She knows me, has known me for a long time but still doesn't know much about my life. So we talked about my life a little and she talked about her life. Nothing amazing, just sharing our stories, which is amazing.
Jack had a busy weekend with swimming lessons, then some time with his mama at the rec centre, where he went swimming again. Yesterday was his buddy's birthday party at the trampoline park. He slept well last night.
Life is boring right now. Cold, daycare and school, housework, radio, cooking supper. I should probably take the time to work on Jack's quilt, but I feel unmotivated. That will change with warmer weather, but right now, it's just cold.
Your pottery looks GREAT to me! I hope you'll post photos again once you've glazed and fired them!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to seeing them glazed.
DeleteWow! Your pottery!
ReplyDeleteThanks
DeleteBoth are nice but I like the soap dish the most. There seems to be a lot of work in both.
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrew. I made another soap dish, working on my design.
DeleteOh they’re lovely! Good for you for letting go and just enjoying.
ReplyDeleteXoxo
Barbara
Thanks
DeleteYou're making the best of the cold weather and so is Jack! Indoor activities are every bit as valuable. I always think that rustic pottery is the best because it's obviously not mass produced! It is unique and hand crafted. Love both those items! I don't consider myself at all artistic or crafty so I (unfortunately) go into any of those activities with a bad attitude. :(
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'm artistic at all, but I can copy things:)
DeleteThat pottery class sounds like a godsend. Hang in there! Spring is on its way. I go by the meteorological calendar, so spring starts March 1.
ReplyDeleteThe snow hands around here into April. May is really our spring.
DeleteI have pottery tomorrow and have had no ideas about what I want to make next. You have reminded me that I could make a vase. I think I will try that. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYour "teacher" doesn't sound like she's teaching at all. I ask a ton of questions because I know nothing about pottery and I'm paying to learn:)
DeleteIt sure is (cold). Have you watched The Great Pottery Showdown? (Great entertainment when stuck indoors.)
ReplyDeleteI'll have to take a look for that show. Thanks.
DeleteI think your work is lovely. And you're right, perfection is definitely over-rated (or at least that's what I tell myself everytime I screw up my sewing)!
ReplyDeleteQuilting has been good for me when it comes to perfection and making mistakes. Life is really a series of mistakes, it's how we learn.
DeleteNice that you and your daughter had a good conversation. The love and friendship of our adult children is something special.
ReplyDeleteI'm so thankful she's back in my life. Apparently my ex trash talked about me a lot which didn't help our relationship.
DeleteI LOVE your pottery. I really do. Perfection is boring. That's my take on it. It seems Jack had a great weekend, which is good for everyone. It's the mid-winter blahs. At least it's mid-winter where you and I live. I just go with it. Kind of like a hibernating animal.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra. I'd make a terrible bear, hibernating would drive me crazy:)
DeleteLovely pottery!
ReplyDeleteThanks
DeleteThe ancient Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi states that there is beauty in imperfection. I used to talk about that all of the time to my students who were perfectionists and would fall apart when something didn't look just right. https://youtu.be/V1gxziZwmkc?si=zFodxT6nAtjhNoBw
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link Michael. You made me cry, in a good way.
ReplyDeleteI was going to answer your comment yesterday, but we had an ice storm and lost power. The power was gone all day. It got really cold in the house! The power came on late last night, but the internet didn't start up until this afternoon. I had someone on my blog years ago mention to me about the idea of wabi-sabi in response to me posting something about my students trying to be perfectionists. About six or so years ago, I had two students try to commit suicide. It was all over their self-image and not feeling "good enough." It is a common theme for gifted kids (that's who I taught in the last 20 years of my teaching career). The following year, I found the video that I shared with you and would show them the last day of school. I would always get tears in my eyes when I told them to embrace who they are, imperfections and all. I would silence the rape part for a few seconds as I didn't want them to hear such brutality. It certainly is a powerful video, and it makes me emotional every time I watch it.
DeleteYour pottery is lovely, I like your soap dish best. I’ve been binge watching a programme called “The Great Pottery Throw Down”, I love it. I went to pottery classes decades ago. One item I made was an ugly looking owl but I’ve still got it because it was the first thing I made! I was very sorry to hear about Jack’s story, it’s heartbreaking when people struggle with addiction. It sounds as if he has a good life with you. I echo your thoughts about the weather, I need warmth and sunshine to get motivated.
ReplyDeleteThank you and thanks for stopping by. Addiction is an ugly disease that destroys the addict and all of those around the addict.
DeleteYour pottery is lovely and the rustic feel only makes it more appealing. How wonderful to be able to share like that with your daughter. I follow her cooking videos. She’s so talented.
ReplyDelete